Display-clip.



No. 682,746. y Patented Sept. l7, 19m.

J-.RAIT. V x

DISPLAY CLIP.

(Application filed May 9, 1901.

(No Model.)

\n/rrrlsssas W MJM UN [TED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES RAIT, OF NEWTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO WILLIAM R. PARK, OF TAUNTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

DISPLAY-CLIP.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 682,746, dated September 17, 1901.

' Application filed May 9, 1901.. Serial No. 59,364- (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES RAIT, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Newton, in the county of Middlesex and State of Massachusetts, have invented-a new and useful Improvement in Display-Clips, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to spring -clips for holding and displaying small articles of merchandise in shop-windows, show-cases, and the like; and its object is to provide a cheap, durable, attractive, and convenient displayclip for holding articles to be displayed-such as cutlery,pens, pencils,andlike small wares and for suspending the same from a rod, cord, or other means of support.

In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate my invention, Figure 1 is a perspective View of my improved display-clip in use holding a knife. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of my display-clip. Fig. 3 is a front view of the same, and Fig. 4 is a rear view of the same.

The body of my device is preferably made of a narrow strip of sheet metal, such as brass or steel, capable of being bent into the form to be described and possessing sufficient resilience to serve as a spring. The flat face 1 forms the back piece of the display-clip. The upper end of the back piece is bent into a suspension-hook, as 2, by which the device may be hung from a rod or the like, and the lower end of the back piece is bent rearwardly and upwardly to form the leaf-spring 3. The spring 3 extends upward to a point about midway of the fiat face 1.

4 is a wire ring (or a band of narrow metal may be used) loosely surrounding the flat part and secured to the end of the spring 3 at 5, as shown. It will be seen that the spring 3 will normally urge the front of the ring or band 4 toward the fiat face 1 and serve as a clasping member for the article to be held. In either side of the flat face 1 may be the notches 6 6, in which the ring or loop 4 slides when pressure is applied to overcome the resistance of spring 3, whereby the spring 3 and loop 4 are moved forward. The notches 6 6 serve as guides or supports to hold the loop 4 in readiness to receive an article and prevent the loop 4 from falling fiat upon the face 1 when the spring 3 is compressed. To place an article in the display-clip, the spring 3 is pressed toward the flat part 1, making a space between the flat face 1 and the front of the ring or band 4 and within the circumference of the latter. The article to be displayed is placed within this space and the spring 3 released, when the article will be securely held between the fiat face 1 and the clasping member 4, as shown in Fig. 1.

It is obvious that the proportions of the clip and the size of the band or ring 4 may be varied to suit the article to be held. While I have described a device whose body is made of sheet metal, I do not wish to limit myself to that, since a clip made of wire or other suitable material is within myinvention; nor do I wish to limit myself to the precise form of spring shown, since any spring adapted to urge the clasping member 4 toward the flat face is within my invention. It will also be seen that other means for suspending the clip than the hook 2 may be used without departing from the spirit of my invention.

What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is- S 1. A display-clip comprising a back piece, and a clasping member consisting of a band loosely surrounding the back piece, and so proportioned as to be capable of receiving an article within its circumference and between itself and the back piece, said back piece being provided with notches adapted to guide and support the band, and a spring normally urging the front of the band toward the back piece, substantially as described.

2. A display-clip comprising a back piece, a suspension-hook, and a clasping member consisting of a band loosely surrounding the back piece, and so proportioned as to be capable of receiving an article within its circumference and between itself and the back piece, and a spring normally urging the front of the band toward the back piece, substantially as described.

3. A display-clip comprising a back piece, a suspension-hook, and a clasping member consisting of a band loosely surrounding'the back piece and so proportioned as to be ca; x

pable of receiving an article within its cir' cumference and between itself and the back piece, and a spring consisting of the rearwardly-upturned end of the back piece attached to the ring and normally urging the front thereof toward the back piece, substantially as described.

4. In a display-clip the combination with an integral strip of sheet metal whose upper end is bent to form a suspension-hook, whose middle part forms a flat face, and whose lower end is bent rearwardly and upwardly to form a leaf-spring, of a clasping member consisting of a ring loosely surrounding the fiat part and adapted to hold an article within its circumference and between itself and the fiat face, said leaf-spring being attached to said ring and adapted to normally urge the front of the same toward the flat face, substantially as described.

5. A display-clip comprising a back piece,

and a clasping member consisting of a band loosely surrounding the back piece, and so proportioned as to be capable of receiving an article within its circumference and between itself and the back piece, and a spring normally urging the front of the band toward the back piece, substantially as described.

6. In a display-clip the flat face 1, suspension-hook 2, and leaf-spring 3, both integral with said fiat face, and the band 4 normally urged by the spring into clasping relation with the flat face, substantially as described.

Signed by me at Boston, Massachusetts, this 26th day of April, 1901.

JAMES BAIT.

Witnesses:

ROBERT OUSHMAN, FRANK S. HARTNETT. 

